Various - Music Of Maluku: Halmahera, Buru, Kei FLAC

Tracklist

Credits

• Recorded By, Compiled By, Liner Notes [Annotated By] – Philip Yampolsky

Notes

Extensive notes and map complement these remarkable recordings.

Musically, the vast province of Maluku ("the Moluccas") is one of the least-known regions of Indonesia. Here we present music from three islands: Halmahera in the north, Buru in the center, and Kei Besar in the south. From Halmahera comes togal, entertainment music played on stringed instruments plus flute, drums, and a singer. From Buru we offer a varied selection: men's songs with drumming, an excerpt from a night-long sung narrative, jew's harp pieces, and a gong ensemble. Aside from two ensembles of flute and percussion, our recordings from Kei Besar are mainly voca: solos, a duo, and choruses offering advice, recounting history, and asserting territorial boundaries (an important use for songs in Maluku); there is also a rowing song sung by children. Finally we return to Halmahera and present selections from a dabus performance accompanied by singing and frame drums. In dabus, a Muslim ritual derived from Sufi practice, men stab themselves vigorously with iron awls, but the spiritual power of the ritual leader protects them from serious injury.

HALMAHERA: Musicians of Desa Malapa, Kecamatan Makian. Genre: togal

BURU: Musicians of Kampung Waereman, Kecamantan Buru Utara Barat.

KEI: Musicians of Watlaar, Haar, and Banda Eli, three villages in the northern part of Kei Besar.
(tracks 13-16): Musicians of Desa Sather, in the southern part of Kei Besar.

HALMAHERA: Dabus officiants and musicians in Desa Talaga, Kecamatan Ibu.

Barcodes

• Barcode: 093074044629